BANGLADESH NEWS
Lalmoni Express, the lone intercity train connecting the northern district with capital Dhaka, miserably fails to meet expectations of passengers.
According to schedule, the train is to start from Lalmonirhat at 10:30am and reach Dhaka at 8:20pm but both departure and arrival are often delayed by hours and its takes about 10-11 hours to reach Dhaka.
“Last week I along with my wife went to Dhaka by Lalmoni Express. The train started from Lalmonirhat station at 2:30pm, instead of the scheduled time 10:30am, and it reached Kamalapur station at around 3:40am,” said Mosharof Hossain, 50, a resident of Purbo Thanapara in Lalmonirhat town.
Another passenger Monsur Ali, 40, a resident of Saheb Para in the town, said, "I and my wife faced untold sufferings at Kamalapur station as Lalmoni Express reached there after midnight and we dared not leave the station platform that time."
Several other passengers including Jamsher Ali, Harunur Shaikh, Abdur Rahman and Nazrul Islam also told about their bitter experience during journey to Dhaka by Lalmoni Express.
If the train starts early in the morning or in the afternoon it would be of great help to the passengers, they said.
Shaikh Abdul Hamid Babu, president of Lalmonirhat Chamber of Commerce and Industries, suggested changing timetable of Lalmoni Express and arranging one more train on the route to facilitate communication between northern districts Lalmonirhat and Kurigram and capital Dhaka.
"Lalmoni Express is listed as a profitable train of Bangladesh Railway. The tickets are always sold early. If timing problem is solved and one more train is added on the route, it will of great help to Lalmonirhat people. Earning will increase too," Lalmonirhat railway station master Akbor Ali said.
Contacted, Additional Traffic Superintendent of Lalmonirhat Division of West Zone Railway Sazzad Hossain said, intercity train Lalmoni Express cannot maintain its time schedule as only one train is used for up and down trips.
Divisional Railway Manager in Lalmonirhat Division of West Zone
Railway Abdul Hai said, "I have already talked with the higher authorities concerned of Bangladesh Railway regarding the matter."
"Train service will play better role for development in the region, if the higher authorities respond to our proposal that includes arranging another train, changing time schedule and installing a new railway track from Bogra to Jamtoli station that would shorten the distance,” he added.
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